The College Football Playoff committee unveiled its first-ever 12-team field Sunday, awarding undefeated Oregon (13-0) the top seed while SMU edged out Alabama for the final at-large berth despite losing the ACC championship game.
Georgia (11-2), Boise State (12-1), and Arizona State (11-2) earned the remaining first-round byes as the highest-ranked conference champions. The Sun Devils made a dramatic jump from No. 15 to secure the final bye after defeating Iowa State in the Big 12 championship.
“We value strength of schedule,” selection committee chair Warde Manuel said regarding the controversial SMU-Alabama decision. “That’s why Alabama is a three-loss team ranked ahead of other teams that have two losses… But in the balance of it and the way SMU played in that game, losing on the last-second field goal… SMU still had the nod above Alabama.”
The first-round matchups, scheduled for December 20-21 at campus sites, feature:
- No. 12 Clemson at No. 5 Texas
- No. 11 SMU at No. 6 Penn State
- No. 10 Indiana at No. 7 Notre Dame
- No. 9 Tennessee at No. 8 Ohio State
All home teams are favored by a touchdown or more according to ESPN BET.
“We’re a team that has a chance to compete for this championship. And to some degree, I think we’re a little bit America’s team after last night,” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said after his team’s dramatic 34-31 loss to Clemson.
The quarterfinals will be played at the Fiesta, Peach, Rose, and Sugar Bowls on December 31 and January 1, followed by semifinals at the Orange and Cotton Bowls. The national championship game is set for January 20 in Atlanta.
Take a look —
THE BRACKET IS SET ✍️
Who are you taking to win the #CFBPlayoff? pic.twitter.com/9BDWwesEVL
— ESPN (@espn) December 8, 2024